BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6aa431469b246 DTSTART:20260629T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20260629T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:UN Global Seaweed Initiative: Annual meeting CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Advancing sustainable seaweed value chains for climate\, biodiv ersity and tradeThe UN Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI) is a multi-stakeh older platform aimed at advancing sustainable and inclusive seaweed value chains\, contributing to climate action\, biodiversity conservation\, and sustainable ocean-based economic development.The Initiative originated fro m a recommendation of the 5th UN Ocean Forum\, was further announced in th e context of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference\, formally launched a t the UN General Assembly 2025\, and its initial Plan of Action for multip le benefits from seaweed was consolidated at COP30.UNGSI currently brings together eight member States (Belize\, Brazil\, Chile\, France\, Ghana\, I ndonesia\, Madagascar\, Senegal\, Republic of Korea and the Bolivarian Rep ublic of Venezuela) and it is currently co-Chaired by France and Madagasca r"\;. It is supported by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)\, UN Globa l Compact (UNGC)\, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNI DO)\, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)\, and UNESCO Intergovernm ental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) and Global Seaweed Coalition ( GSC).Despite its high potential\, the seaweed sector faces persistent chal lenges across its value chain\, including:Limited integration into policy frameworks (NDCs\, NBSAPs)Constraints in sustainable production systemsFra gmented regulatory frameworks and standards\, including sustainable produc tion\, food security and tradeLack of Access to finance and investment mec hanismsResearch gaps and limited species diversificationObjectives of the eventAdvance dialogue among Member States on priority actionsAddress key b ottlenecks across the seaweed value chainStrengthen coordination among par tners and stakeholdersImprove governance arrangements for the continuation of the UNGSI including the definition of the role and composition of the Secretariat.Identify concrete pathways for implementation and financingVid eo Messages Édipo Araújo\, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Bra zilÉdipo Araújo reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to the UN Global Seawee d Initiative and to a sustainable and inclusive blue economy. He described seaweed aquaculture as a unique opportunity to combine environmental cons ervation\, food security\, innovation and socioeconomic development for co astal communities. While Brazil and Latin America contribute little to glo bal production today\, he underlined the region’s significant potential for sustainable growth\, and pledged Brazil’s full commitment to strengt hening and implementing the Initiative. Eduardo Sfoglia\, Head Advisor fo r International Affairs\, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture\, BrazilEd uardo Sfoglia presented how Brazil has embedded seaweed farming in its nat ional climate plan and Nationally Determined Contributions\, and how it ca n provide alternative livelihoods for coastal communities. He recalled the Plan to Accelerate the Multiple Benefits of Algae Aquaculture\, presented by UNGSI partners at COP30 in Belém\, and called on members to help mobi lize multilateral climate funds and champion concrete seaweed-farming proj ects as climate solutions. Chantal Line Carpentier\, Head\, Trade\, Envir onment\, Climate Change and Sustainable Development\, UNCTADChantal Line C arpentier positioned seaweed as a strategic pillar of the sustainable ocea n economy and named the main constraints: fragmented standards\, gaps in p rocessing\, certification and traceability\, limited finance\, and the abs ence of shared carbon-measurement methods. She outlined UNGSI priorities f or 2026–2027: mobilizing resources\, integrating seaweed into national p lans\, strengthening trade regulation\, standards and traceability includi ng through Codex Alimentarius\, addressing production constraints in devel oping countries\, and reinforcing governance and inclusiveness.https://unc tad.org/meeting/cop30-action-agenda-event-seaweed-and-aquatic-foods-blue-s olutions-climate-resilience\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad. org/node/51858 DTSTAMP:20260911T165014Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6aa431469b28a DTSTART:20260630T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20260630T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:UN Global Seaweed Initiative: Annual meeting CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Advancing sustainable seaweed value chains for climate\, biodiv ersity and tradeThe UN Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI) is a multi-stakeh older platform aimed at advancing sustainable and inclusive seaweed value chains\, contributing to climate action\, biodiversity conservation\, and sustainable ocean-based economic development.The Initiative originated fro m a recommendation of the 5th UN Ocean Forum\, was further announced in th e context of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference\, formally launched a t the UN General Assembly 2025\, and its initial Plan of Action for multip le benefits from seaweed was consolidated at COP30.UNGSI currently brings together eight member States (Belize\, Brazil\, Chile\, France\, Ghana\, I ndonesia\, Madagascar\, Senegal\, Republic of Korea and the Bolivarian Rep ublic of Venezuela) and it is currently co-Chaired by France and Madagasca r"\;. It is supported by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)\, UN Globa l Compact (UNGC)\, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNI DO)\, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)\, and UNESCO Intergovernm ental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) and Global Seaweed Coalition ( GSC).Despite its high potential\, the seaweed sector faces persistent chal lenges across its value chain\, including:Limited integration into policy frameworks (NDCs\, NBSAPs)Constraints in sustainable production systemsFra gmented regulatory frameworks and standards\, including sustainable produc tion\, food security and tradeLack of Access to finance and investment mec hanismsResearch gaps and limited species diversificationObjectives of the eventAdvance dialogue among Member States on priority actionsAddress key b ottlenecks across the seaweed value chainStrengthen coordination among par tners and stakeholdersImprove governance arrangements for the continuation of the UNGSI including the definition of the role and composition of the Secretariat.Identify concrete pathways for implementation and financingVid eo Messages Édipo Araújo\, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Bra zilÉdipo Araújo reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to the UN Global Seawee d Initiative and to a sustainable and inclusive blue economy. He described seaweed aquaculture as a unique opportunity to combine environmental cons ervation\, food security\, innovation and socioeconomic development for co astal communities. While Brazil and Latin America contribute little to glo bal production today\, he underlined the region’s significant potential for sustainable growth\, and pledged Brazil’s full commitment to strengt hening and implementing the Initiative. Eduardo Sfoglia\, Head Advisor fo r International Affairs\, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture\, BrazilEd uardo Sfoglia presented how Brazil has embedded seaweed farming in its nat ional climate plan and Nationally Determined Contributions\, and how it ca n provide alternative livelihoods for coastal communities. He recalled the Plan to Accelerate the Multiple Benefits of Algae Aquaculture\, presented by UNGSI partners at COP30 in Belém\, and called on members to help mobi lize multilateral climate funds and champion concrete seaweed-farming proj ects as climate solutions. Chantal Line Carpentier\, Head\, Trade\, Envir onment\, Climate Change and Sustainable Development\, UNCTADChantal Line C arpentier positioned seaweed as a strategic pillar of the sustainable ocea n economy and named the main constraints: fragmented standards\, gaps in p rocessing\, certification and traceability\, limited finance\, and the abs ence of shared carbon-measurement methods. She outlined UNGSI priorities f or 2026–2027: mobilizing resources\, integrating seaweed into national p lans\, strengthening trade regulation\, standards and traceability includi ng through Codex Alimentarius\, addressing production constraints in devel oping countries\, and reinforcing governance and inclusiveness.https://unc tad.org/meeting/cop30-action-agenda-event-seaweed-and-aquatic-foods-blue-s olutions-climate-resilience\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad. org/node/51858 DTSTAMP:20260911T165014Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR